Mother and Son candid, lifestyle and artistic photography on display

Photographers Nick Mele and mother, Victoria Leiter Mele will share the spotlight during a special exhibit at EmKo Palm Beach Galleries. The duo’s artistic photography will be on display from March 2nd to March 20th. Art lovers will grasp Nick’s spontaneous candid shots, portraitures and lifestyle shots. The daughter of famed Washington DC hostess Oatsie Charles, Victoria’s graceful eye to detail captures the natural beauty surrounding her.

Baileys Chairs

Known in Palm Beach for his photos of A-Listers published regularly in the Shiny Sheet, Nicholas Mele is also recognized for the composition of his unique lifestyle photography shot in Palm Beach, Miami, New York, and his native Newport, Rhode Island.

Nick specializes in portraiture of all kinds. Mele’s work is an agglomeration of his varied interests. He is at the same time an artist, a documentarian, a film junkie, a band-aide, a partygoer, and a family man. Between capturing stills on movie sets, taking concert shots of bands like Maroon 5 and Counting Crows, snapping partygoers for Patrick McMullan, and spending several years documenting the lives of America’s last remaining Grande Dames, his work has been featured in such publications such as Interview,Town & Country, Quest, Manhattan Magazine, and Vanity Fair.

Nick comes to his talent naturally, as his mother, Victoria has been shooting artistic photography since Nick was a baby. Her specialty is botanical compositions. Once you see one of her shots, you will easily recognize her graceful style.

NE Flowers

Victoria Leiter Mele is a Newport, Rhode Island/Palm Beach, Florida based photographer and watercolor artist. Her main focus lies in nature and the sense of wonder derived therein. Whether it is the simplicity of a garden rose or the grandeur of snowy New England sunset, Victoria’s art showcases the innate beauty of the world around her. She has had several art shows in the New England area, but this is her first in South Florida.

30-year anniversary culminates with a special Warhol celebration of his life and art

Many of us remember that day 30 years ago, April 1, 1987; but while on assignment for Vanity Fair, internationally renowned photographer Christophe von Hohenberg actually experienced and captured the end of an era and the bittersweet, yet stellar, send off of the 58 year old Pop icon, Andy Warhol. Von Hohenberg, took more than 600 photos of what Grace Glueck of the New York Times called the “most droppable names” in the world of Hollywood, fashion, music, art and international society. Fifty of these photo subjects, taken in and outside Warhol’s star-studded Memorial service at St. Patrick’s, will be unveiled on March 3rd at Alfstad & Contemporary in Sarasota, Florida. The exhibition titled Remembering Warhol: Thirty Years Ago, culminates on the 30th anniversary of the Memorial service with a Warhol Celebration. During the evening of April 1st, von Hohenberg will be signing copies of his book, The Day the Factory Died which received the Photo District News Photo Book Award and the AIGA Book Award.

“My photographs convey warmth and sadness, despite the high-glitz factor of that day,” says von Hohenberg. “Thirty years later, I still see the classic Raquel Welch defiantly standing in front of the Cathedral in a full length fur coat. I have framed in my mind a hurrying Robert Mapplethorpe, and Liza Minnelli on the arm of Halston. My favorite though, is the outside shot of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, because the Hitchock-ish angle of the shot sums up that whole event for me.”

Warhol’s memorial service was on April 1, 1987 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, where over 2,000 guests were in attendance featuring the most renowned and legendary figures of fashion, music, international society, art and Hollywood . Crowds of curious onlookers filled the surrounding streets and had to be held back by barriers and NYPD. Through his lens, von Hohenberg documented a veritable time capsule of the social swirl of the magical era that Warhol had such a hand in shaping.

In addition to the iconic photographs, Alfstad & Contemporary will also showcase corresponding celebrity remembrances and antidotes that von Hohenberg collected by writing to a number of famous guests in attendance. Some, like designer Diane von Furstenberg, sent back hand-written notes, and others, like Claus von Bulow, dictated their thoughts onto personal stationary. Collectively the letters are a remarkable testament to a certain social and cultural world that seems to have long ago vanished into the ether of history.

Von Hohenberg began his career in 1979 when he was discovered by American Vogue and worked for publications including Interview, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, French and German Vogue, German Rolling Stone, Fortune, and The New York Times Magazine. In 2007, his critically acclaimed book Andy Warhol: The Day the Factory Died was awarded the AIG Book and Photobook District News Award. He has since published two well received books of photography: ANOTHER PLANET: New York Portraits, 1976-1996 and Shadows of the Gods: Mexico City. His work has been included in two exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He has also had solo exhibitions at the Goss-Michael Foundation in Dallas and the Amerika Haus in Munich. The artist has exhibited extensively both in the United States and abroad. Von Hohenberg divides his time between New York City, The Hamptons and Mexico.

Artist Paul Freundt firmly believes that sculptural presence, although important, must not override the functional requirements of the piece. Known for his many public installations in the Atlanta area, Paul is a member of both the Furniture Council as well as the American Craft Council. The award-winning artist’s fans include Ted Turner, Elton John, and Brad Pitt.

Now, forty years into a long career, Paul continues his passion providing clients across the country with artwork that both pleases visually and offers true utilitarian function. Minimalist in his design philosophy, the artist is a firm believer in two things: “the power of less” and “form follows function”. While primarily a metal worker, Paul is presently interested in the occasional use of stone and wood.

The 14th Annual Palm Beach Fine Craft Show is scheduled to take place at the Palm Beach County Convention Center February 16th through 19th. This year’s highly curated Show will be produced by Palm Beach Show Group and co-located with their internationally acclaimed Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show.

The well-respected and always popular Palm Beach Fine Craft Show in known for providing an opportunity for interactive dialogue with the artists themselves for avid collectors as well as those looking for an introduction to beginning a personal collection. Jury Members have reviewed a record number of artist’s submissions in categories including: glass, ceramics, sculpture, furniture, as well as mixed media, fashion, jewelry, and more.

The Palm Beach Show Group is the leading full-service show production company in the nation, specializing in world-class fine art, jewelry, and antiques shows. Providing an unparalleled experience for exhibitors and attendees at each and every show, The Palm Beach Show Group currently produces ten of the industries’ most anticipated events, known for their diverse roster of top international dealers, exceptional merchandise and elegant décor.

Show hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday hours are from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. For tickets and more information: http://www.palmbeachfinecraft.com

Michael Andrew Jacobson aka Mr. LightsAndPaint will launch an exhibit of his creative and unique works at EmKo Galleries, located at 2119 South Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach. The exhibit begins February 22nd and will run through the end of March. Known for his Mixed Media Art which he enhances with LED Lights, Michael is a member of Miami’s Young Artist Initiative and is active in the burgeoning Wynwood Arts Community. ‘The Eye’ pictured above is on display in the dining room of University of Miami’s President Julio Frenk.

Determined and ambitious for something new and great, Mr. LightsAndPaint has a unique understanding of the mechanics of artistic talent, which he creatively demonstrates through various works of art. Using multiple mediums and color schemes his artwork develops a rhythm of its own. Lights and Paint…more than just a painting and a visual show, it is artwork that comes alive.

“My mission is for you never to get bored looking at one of my pieces. You can even customize the color of the LED lights to your preference or mood.” explains Mr. LightsAndPaint.

Born in New York City, Michael was raised on Star Island in Miami Beach. Michael’s mother, Roni Jacobson Goldsmith is a Palm Beach resident and an avid art collector as well as a supporter of the local Arts Community. She noticed and cultivated Michael’s artistic talents from a young age. “Michael’s teachers recognized his artistic leanings, when he was at Miami Country Day School, the Cushman School, and the University of Miami.” explains his mother. He worked for a time at the Marlborough Galleries in New York City, and his work has been exhibited at the Lowe Art Museum in Miami.

If there is one thing Steven Hartman knows it’s his art! The owner of Contessa Gallery immediately recognized something special about Cayla Birk.’s works. Exclusively showcased at Contessa Gallery, the young artist pays homage to historical events and characters in a contemporary style that is uniquely her own. “I don’t normally champion emerging artists. That’s not what our focus is, however, in this case it’s clear to me where her career is going to go. She fits in with our roster of internationally recognized artists,” said Hartman.

Detail of PALM BEACH

Based in West Palm Beach, Cayla’s influences come from a wide array of writers, musicians, and epistemologists. The mostprominent influences include Jack Kerouac, Ella Fitzgerald and Chuck Palahniuk. Each project consists of multiple works, often in a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings. Cayla’s works merge traditional acrylic paints with other unique materials; she transcends the confines of mixed media art to create a style all her own. A signature approach of intricate designs pervade all of Birk.’s body of work as her instantly recognizable gestures and marks boast austere verbiage and shroud depictions.

“I allude to popular iconography, musical lyricism, and current verbal slang that pervade societal culture. Having engaged subjects as diverse as enlightened secret orders, hip-hop music and contemporary design, my work reproduces familiar visual signs, arranging them into new conceptually layered pieces,” says Cayla Birk.

Cayla’s work joins a specially curated collection of works by leading contemporary artists, including a very extensive selection by pop and street art sensation, Mr. Brainwash. Contessa Gallery is excited to showcase the artist’s continual revolutionary experimentation with new techniques, media, materials and subject matter. The special exhibition includes original Mr. Brainwash works on Wood, Metal, Brick, Cement, Canvas, Paper, Sculpture and Neon Light Mixed Media. The gallery also features artwork by David Drebin, Hijack and Gilles Cenazandotti.

A.D.I.D.A.S (Detail)

Initially open by appointment only, the new Contessa Satellite Gallery is located at the corner of Clematis Street and Rosemary Avenue. To make an appointment or for more detailed information about this exciting exhibition, please visit: www.contessagallery.com or contact Steve Hartman at 216-956-2825 or via email: art@contessagallery.com.

About Contessa Gallery

Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery is a Fine Art Dealers Association member (FADA) that offers artworks of exceedingly high quality as well as art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums and institutions. Areas of expertise include pre-20th century, Modern and Contemporary sculpture, paintings, photography and works on paper. While many galleries focus primarily on artist representation and promotion, Contessa Gallery is collector focused. The gallery’s mission is to assist clients in developing collections that have deep personal meaning. Steve Hartman, owner of Contessa Gallery encourages his clients to view their collections as a legacy that can be passed down through generations or to art institutions.